Controller with configurable connections between data processing components

Abstract

A controller with configurable connections between data processing components is provided. In one embodiment, the controller includes a number of configurable inputs and outputs that may be used with digital and/or analog signals. The controller includes a data processor with a plurality of data processing components. The inputs and outputs are configurable to the plurality of data processing components and transfer of processed data between the plurality of data processing components is also configurable.

1. A method of configuring an electrical controller in a network comprising:
 providing a controller having a standard communications protocol with a predetermined first and a predetermined second data processing component to a user, each of the first and second data processing components having a first input and an output; 
 providing a network management tool to the user; 
 enabling the user to configure the controller with the network management tool such that the output of the first data processing component is operably connected to the first input of the second data processing component; and 
 configuring the controller in response to user input received through the network management tool such that the output of the first data processing component is operably connected to the first input of the second data processing component. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 providing a controller comprises providing a controller with a first controller input and a controller output; and 
 configuring comprises
 operably connecting the first controller input to the first input of the first data processing component, and 
 operably connecting the second data processing component output to the controller output. 
 
 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 providing a controller further comprises
 providing a controller with a second input and 
 providing the second data processing component with a second input; and 
 configuring comprises 
 operably connecting the second input of the controller to the second input of the second data processing component. 
 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second data processing components are proportional-integral-derivative components, and wherein configuring comprises providing the output of the first data processing component as a set point to the second data processing component. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 providing a controller comprises providing a controller with a first controller input and a controller output; and 
 configuring comprises operably connecting the first controller input to the controller output. 
 
   
   
     6. A controller assembly comprising:
 a set of input modules configured to be coupled to receive signals from a select set of inputs from a building automation system; 
 a set of output modules configured to be coupled to provide signals to a select set of outputs in a building automation system; and 
 a set of process control modules programmed in at least one read only memory in the controller and including at least a first process control module and a second process control module, the first process control module of a type different from the second process control module, the set of process control modules operable to be configured by a user in one of a plurality of possible configurations, each possible configuration defining (i) a set of user selectable connections between the set of input modules and the set of process control modules, (ii) a set of user selectable connections between the set of output modules and the set of process control modules, and (iii) a set of user selectable connections among process control modules in the set of process control modules. 
 
   
   
     7. The controller assembly of  claim 6  wherein the set of process control modules includes a plurality of loop controllers, each loop controller operable to receive a set point and a value based on a monitored parameter, each loop controller operable to generate an output variable based on the value and the set point. 
   
   
     8. The controller assembly of  claim 7  wherein at least one loop controller is a proportional-integral-derivative controller. 
   
   
     9. The controller assembly of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of possible configurations includes at least one configuration wherein at least one process control module is unused. 
   
   
     10. The controller assembly of  claim 9  wherein the set of process control modules includes at least one statistical function component. 
   
   
     11. The controller assembly of  claim 9  wherein the set of process control modules includes at least one data mapping component. 
   
   
     12. The controller assembly of  claim 6  wherein each process control module of the set of process control modules comprises a software routine executed by a processor. 
   
   
     13. The controller assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a sequencer configured to process each of the set of inputs, each of the set of outputs, and each of the set of process control modules in a predetermined order. 
   
   
     14. The controller assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the set of input modules are operable to be configured in one of a plurality of possible configurations, each possible configuration defining a user selectable set of connections between the set of input modules and the set of output modules. 
   
   
     15. The controller assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the set of output modules comprises a digital output module operable to receive a signal from one of the set of input modules indicative of a percentage value and to provide a digital output signal. 
   
   
     16. A controller assembly comprising:
 a housing; 
 a plurality of input terminals operably connected to a building automation system, the plurality of input terminals supported by said housing; 
 a plurality of output terminals operably connected to the building automation system, the plurality of output terminals supported by said housing; 
 a processing circuit supported by said housing, the processing circuit pre-programmed into at least one read only memory to perform at least four loop control functions, the processing circuit operably coupled to the plurality of input terminals and the plurality of output terminals; and 
 a memory operably coupled to the processing circuit and operably configured to store configuration information selected by a user, the configuration information identifying logical input connections and logical output connections for each of the four loop control functions; 
 wherein the processing circuit operably provides at least one output value based on at least one input value received from at least one of the plurality of input terminals to at least one of the plurality of output terminals based on the stored configuration information. 
 
   
   
     17. The controller assembly of  claim 16  wherein the processing circuit is further operable to perform a statistic function, and wherein the stored configuration information identifies logical input and output connections for the statistic function. 
   
   
     18. The controller assembly of  claim 17  wherein the processing circuit is further operable to perform a mapping function, and wherein the stored configuration information identifies logical input and output connections for the mapping function. 
   
   
     19. The controller assembly of  claim 16  wherein the processing circuit is further operable to perform at least three proportional-integral-derivative loop control functions. 
   
   
     20. The controller of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the memory is field programmable: 
 the controller further comprises a read only memory; and 
 the at least four loop control functions are programmed in the read only memory. 
 
   
   
     21. The controller of  claim 16 , wherein the processing circuit is further operable to connect at least one of the plurality of input terminals to at least one of the plurality of output terminals.